294: Lockhorn Hard Cider | Bozeman, Montana

294: Lockhorn Hard Cider | Bozeman, Montana

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist October 27, 2021 Duration: 54:48

Who is Lockhorn Hard Cider

Alaskan natives Anna and Glenn Deal opened Lockhorn Cider in 2010 in Bozeman, Montana. Anna is a botanist and Glenn came to Montana to study and is a nurse. Lockhorn makes modern ciders with apples from Washington State and choice Montana apples like the McIntosh, but the goal is to upscale the ciders as people's palate continues to be drawn to dryer ciders.

Cider Chat ep:294 Lockhorn Cider Anna & Glenn Deal

The Tasting Room tips

  • A dedicated gluten free kitchen
  • Cheese and salami boards
    • They make their own hummus and pickles

Topics in this chat.

  • Who are the cider drinkers in Bozeman, Montana?
    • farm to table options
    • Locally crafted beverages like cider and craft beer.
  • What to expect at Lockhorn's Tasting Room
  • A perennialwild flower garden and apple trees
  • Production room visible from Tasting Room area
    • Each tank is 18' tall and is 5x5 feet so it provides a bit of fermentation grandeur.
    • The packaging/canner line is upstairs, which is quite unusual, but again is a testimony of how Glenn and Anna were able to work with the space to suit their needs. It works!
    • The cidery has a green roof - meaning it is a living environment for plants. The roof itself is what is called a "barrel roof"
  • The Story behind Lockhorn Cidery Branding

Lockhorn's Orchard and Ciders

  • The orchard is based in the grow Zone 3 and is a mile high in elevation.
  • Planted in 8-10 feet of topsoil, the apple trees are trellised on dwarf root stock
  • In addition they have 250 full sized trees
  • The current cider of Lockhorn is made with juice from Washington State.
  • They also utilize Montana's coveted McIntosh apples
  • They also use local cherries called Flathead Cherries - expect a super sweet cherry that is considered a fresh eating cherry. Bit tart and moderately complex with a bit of tannin in the skin.

Cider Chat Ep:294 Lockhorn Hard Cider

Lockhorn's Flagship Cider?

  • They make weekly small batch cider releases.
  • The customer's favorite (at this point) is a Grapefruit Mint cider that appears to have capture everyone's palate because it is so refreshing on the hot summer Montana days.
  • And a bit of a cocktail called a Cider Mint Mojito where they continue to use mint
  • The 2nd Flagship cider is the Bone Dry, which bodes well for cidermakers everywhere!

Contact Lockhorn Hard Cider

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There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

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